Hometeam Division 2 football: Ryan is ’Cats’ Capt. Crunch

Thursday

Sep 13, 2012 at 6:00 AM

Though it appears the era of the three-sport athlete is dying, it’s alive and well for at least one student-athlete in Gardner.

A standout in football, basketball, and baseball, Mitch Ryan quietly has gone about dispelling the notion that three-sport athletes no longer exist. The 6-foot-3, 235-pounder is a captain in football and basketball (baseball captains have not been named) and has proven himself a leader on and off the field.

“I just love playing all of the sports,” Ryan said. “There is nothing like pushing yourself, and by competing in each season, I get to challenge myself every day. It’s just something I love.”

Currently, that challenge is helping the young Wildcats mature quickly. After a 12-1 season a year ago, most of the starters on both sides of the ball graduated, leaving a handful of veterans to help guide the inexperienced ’Cats in a tough Division 2 field.

In its opener, the Gardner played a tough, physical battle before falling to Hudson, 14-7. Ryan said it was disappointing to lose, but that the team learned a lot that will help as the schedule rolls on, starting with a game at Clinton on Friday night.

“We played well at times but didn’t capitalize on our chances,” Ryan said. “It was a tough ride home, but practice this week has been more intense and very positive, so we definitely picked some things up from that loss. We can correct those things and continue to move in the right direction.”

Coach Walter Dubzinski Jr. had nothing but praise for his starting center and defensive tackle, commending him on his work ethic, attitude and leadership.

“Mitch is a great football player but more importantly, he is a great person,” Dubzinski said. “He is a great model for the kids in our program to emulate. He is the epitome of a student-athlete, and he pushes himself in every aspect of his life.”

Dubzinski might not be giving Ryan enough credit. In addition to playing and preparing for three sports, Ryan is ranked second in his class, enrolled in four Advanced Placement courses (English, government, physics and calculus), is a National Honor Society member, on the student council, and participates in Gardner’s innovative mentoring program, which pairs an upperclassman with a freshman (or struggling sophomore) to help with the transition to high school.

Basically, Ryan is Gardner High’s renaissance man.

Ryan said the mentoring program has gone great and he loves working on a daily basis with his freshman. They work on time management, study skills, social skills and anything else that comes up.

“It really helps him understand what you need to do to be successful in high school,” Ryan said. “But it helps me, too. I am learning leadership skills and techniques that not only help me with being a mentor to him, but as a captain as well. I understand that different situations and different personalities require a different type of approach. These are skills that will help me far beyond Gardner High School.”

What lies beyond Gardner? Ryan is looking to play football in college, and has been researching and visiting schools in the NESCAC, Ivy League and Northeast-10, and attended a number of collegiate camps over the summer. His list of colleges is still quite long, but some of his favorites are Wesleyan, Amherst, Bentley, Harvard and Brown.

Dubzinski said Ryan has demonstrated more than can be expected of him, and that the skills he has developed will make him a success wherever he goes.

“Mitch is just a standout in all areas of his life,” Dubzinski said. “He is incredibly focused on what needs to be done. When he is at football, his focus is on football. When football is done, he focuses on what’s next, whether it’s AP English or basketball or mentoring. He is a special young man.”